Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Where Do I Start

Dan T

Recommended Posts

Dan T Newbie
Dan T
Posted

I am a 45 male who has always had some mild constipation but lately it has been out of control. I have a dad and a nephew with celiac but have no idea if that is what I have. I have gone 80-90% gluten free for a week and the cramps are gone but the constipation is still there. Not sure what to eat or do right now,

my urine is clear and the cat scan revealed nothing.

Dan

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

If you've already tried the simple strategies of more fiber & fruit/fruit juice (apples, prunes, raisins) you have two options to try to determine celiac:

1) Go back to eating gluten normally, have celiac and nutrient blood work - followed by endoscopy if indicated by either tests or symptoms. If possible have this done by a Gastrenterologist whom wants a celiac case. Gene testing for Celiac is optional - although these don't diagnose Celiac, only indicate that you might develop Celiac - if you don't have the genes it is helpful in ruling out Celiac.

2) Go 100% gluten free to see if your symptoms improve - I'm 44 and it took about 6-8 weeks to show improvement in some symptoms - others symptoms including constipation took longer - but did improve.

Good Luck!

Link Rookie
Link
Posted
If you've already tried the simple strategies of more fiber & fruit/fruit juice (apples, prunes, raisins) you have two options to try to determine celiac:

1) Go back to eating gluten normally, have celiac and nutrient blood work - followed by endoscopy if indicated by either tests or symptoms. If possible have this done by a Gastrenterologist whom wants a celiac case. Gene testing for Celiac is optional - although these don't diagnose Celiac, only indicate that you might develop Celiac - if you don't have the genes it is helpful in ruling out Celiac.

2) Go 100% gluten free to see if your symptoms improve - I'm 44 and it took about 6-8 weeks to show improvement in some symptoms - others symptoms including constipation took longer - but did improve.

Good Luck!

Link Rookie
Link
Posted
I am a 45 male who has always had some mild constipation but lately it has been out of control. I have a dad and a nephew with celiac but have no idea if that is what I have. I have gone 80-90% gluten free for a week and the cramps are gone but the constipation is still there. Not sure what to eat or do right now,

my urine is clear and the cat scan revealed nothing.

Dan

Link Rookie
Link
Posted

Dan:

Enterolab (www.enterolab.com) offers a variety of tests, including a stool test, to identify gluten sensitivity. It also provides genetic testing. All tests are at a reasonable cost and may be

ordered without a doctor's order.

These stool tests are highly sensitive and will tell you if you are gluten intolerant and even if you are genetically predisposed to celiac disease. It is well worth checking out this web site...it is a wealth of information. Also, the stool test is not an invasive test and it is definitive. I just ordered the kit for myself to determine once and for all if I have Celiac Disease and if I carry the genes so I can enlighten my adult kids. Also, you don't have to start back on gluten to have the test done.

Also, The Gluten Connection by Shari Liberman is an excellent book to get you started on the gluten journey. Highly informative...this is where I found out about the lab in TX. Hang in there. I am still battling the symptoms of gluten intolerence after being gluten free for 5 1/2 weeks. I am determined to beat this ordeal. Don't give up...stay gluten free...what do you have to lose?

Evie4 Apprentice
Evie4
Posted

Dan, constipation was my main motivation to go gluten free. I'm in my late 40s and it was becoming progressively worse. I went mostly gluten free and found that two days in a row of consuming gluten constipated me. Then it was a single day of consumption and I couldn't go for a couple days. Things were going really well after completely stopping gluten and then I found out if I eat legumes a couple days in a row or if I eat too many gluten free starchy things like muffins, cookies, pretzels etc. I start having problems.

I've been suffering from IBS for about 16+ years now. I tried all the traditional recommendations. Fiber was a disaster, no amount water or exercise worked. I have pretty much always eaten well balanced meals with daily fruit and vegetables. My husband has no problem with our diet.

I don't know if I have celiac disease. I do have genes, symptoms and test results that point to it. So I'm gluten free and life is better. Not perfect, but better!

So...you could try eating less starch and no gluten and see if that helps. In my case, the amount of gluten you have been eating would be too much for me to not be constipated.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,519
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jacquelyn Burke
    Newest Member
    Jacquelyn Burke
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      What should I expect from a UK restaurant advertising / offering "Gluten Free" food

      By trents · Posted

      @cristiana, I'm thinking the intensity of our response to the same amount of gluten can vary from time to time. Our bodies are a dynamic entity. 
    • Scott Adams
      Jersey Mike’s option: Gluten-free bread

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'm going to try Jersey Mike's soon--we have one nearby. Thanks for sharing!
    • cristiana
      What should I expect from a UK restaurant advertising / offering "Gluten Free" food

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @trents Two things can happen:  1/ For a very small gluten hit, I will get a slightly sore stomach for a few days, maybe a day or two following the glutening, and (TMI warning) maybe slightly loose BMs with mucus  for a couple of days.  2/ For a substantial glutening, and thankfully it's only happened once in recent years,  I get bad chills, followed by vomiting, and my heartbeat is all over the place and I can hardly stand.  It's pretty extreme.  That happens within about 2 hours of eating the gluten.  I might feel slightly dizzy for a couple of days after the glutening episode. Interestingly I've just been out to a cafe which hitherto has made a big thing about how their french fries are cooked in a separate fryer.  I shared some with a friend and they were served with chilli sauce, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and fried onions.  Definitely not health food!  Anyway,  I'd eaten half when I realised I'd not checked the menu to ensure that this dish is still gluten-free - and it turns out it isn't!!!  They've changed the ingredients and the fried onions are now cooked with wheat.   I came home expecting to feel dreadful as I had no idea how much gluten I have consumed but so far if anything I feel just little queasy.  I think I'd have thrown up by now had there been a lot of gluten in the onions.  
    • trents
      Persistent isolated high DGP-IGG in child despite gluten-free diet

      By trents · Posted

      It might be wise to start him on small amounts and work up to 10g. Monitor how he reacts. Some people simply cannot complete the gluten challenge because it makes them too ill. By the way, you can buy powdered gluten in health food stores, at least here in the states you can. With a food scale, it would be easy to measure the amount being consumed in a day. I'm not sure what the intensity of reaction to gluten tells you about what's actually going on with regard to celiac disease. I mean there are some celiacs like me who don't seem to react to minor exposure amounts but who get violently ill with larger exposures. Then there are celiacs who get some kind of reaction to even the tiniest amount of exposure but don't necessarily get violently ill. And how the reaction manifests itself is very different for different people. Some, like me, experience emesis and diarrhea. Others just get brain fog. Others get joint pain. It's all over the map.
    • melthebell
      Persistent isolated high DGP-IGG in child despite gluten-free diet

      By melthebell · Posted

      That's interesting - that's a lot of gluten! I'll be very curious to see how my son responds to the gluten. In some ways, I guess having a strong reaction would tell us something? It's tough navigating this as a parent and having it be not so clear cut ;\
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.